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Green buildings – queries still remain
Chennai has the reputation of holding nearly 68 per cent of Green building space in the country. But not all are totally convinced in the manner green building concepts are promoted, verified and certified “It has become more of an elitist concept and builders go in for it with an eye on certification,” said M.G. Devasahayam, Managing Trustee of SUSTAIN (Citizens Alliance for Sustainable Living). Essentially, the concept was to be in harmony
with nature, with wholesome use of cross ventilation, light and water. It was not new to India as the homes of our forefathers had all these elements and much more, he said. He referred to Chettinad palaces and the Thanjavur temple as standing examples where one experienced the natural cooling effect while stepping inside. Back in yore, building materials consisted of mud, burnt brick and wood to produce natural cooling which was also conceptually green, he affirmed.
“The present need is to universalise the concept and not make it symbolic”, he said. “And LEED certified builders are not the answer.” He agreed that the setting up of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and the ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) had been a major departure because it drew up standards to be complied with. Funding is tied up with eco-compatibility and approvals restricted to commercial/office complexes. But its scope must be widened to include residences, schools and colleges. “Without an overall Green perspective, Green building cannot survive as a concept.”
His emphasis was on an Indian version (of certification) which would stick to the basics of US LEED but in tune with Indian conditions. It would include recognition for any effort to recycle or save water (tax rebate as in Israel), installation of sewage treatment plants, using recycled water in gardens and water-cooled air-conditioners. Buildings would have to account for saving energy in view of varied climatic zones in the country. Also to be adopted are new mixing or blending technology to make use of secondary materials, chemical admixtures (super plasticisers, air-entraining agents), and adoption of soil erosion control techniques such as temporary seeding, permanent seeding and mulching. Finally, a Green Construction Consortium should be established. Its target groups in the Chennai Metropolitan Area will be manufacturers of building materials and eco-efficient products.
K.S. SUBRAMANIAN
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